What to do for 5 hours in an airport?

[H20Babie]

HELP!

I thought we'd be able to use a "pay-as-you-go" airport lounge for our 5.5 hour layover in Toronto. Turns out, because we're "transborder" and not "international", we can't use the lounge. What do we do (me and DS8) for 5.5 hours?

 

[Monty]

You can purchase Maple Leaf Lounge access if you think it's worth it cost-wise: [DS8 would pay the same price as you, but there's free snacks and drinks. In 5 hours, you can easily eat a lot :lol:]

Select Economy ticket holders who have purchased lounge access
You can purchase Maple Leaf Lounge access for a nominal fee at time of booking when you purchase a ticket online, or add Lounge access and other travel options at any time up to 24 hours before your flight simply by accessing your booking online.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access can be purchased for the following fares (rates listed are per one-way trip):

• Within Canada & the US
  • Tango fares: $45 CAD/USD
  • Tango Plus fares: $35 CAD/USD
  • Latitude fares: $30 CAD/USD
• Sun & International Destinations
  • Tango Plus fares: $55 CAD/USD
  • Latitude fares: $45 CAD/USD

Note: economy ticket holders who have purchased lounge access are not entitled to invite a guest; access may not be purchased for either the ticket holder or guest at the airport.

The lounge is immediately to your right at the bottom of the escalator after you've cleared US Customs and security. I use it all the time. Very relaxing. There are even showers you can use if you want.

 

[H20Babie]

We're not flying Air Canada, we're WestJet. We were planning on using the Plaza Premium lounge in Terminal 3 where our arrival and departure gates are. But, as I noted, I was told we can't because we aren't domestic or international (the transborder lounge is past security in Terminal 1).

 

[Monty]

We're not flying Air Canada, we're WestJet. We were planning on using the Plaza Premium lounge in Terminal 3 where our arrival and departure gates are. But, as I noted, I was told we can't because we aren't domestic or international (the transborder lounge is past security in Terminal 1).

Ah, yes. Westjet doesn't have Executive lounge agreements in Toronto. Sorry.

Other than books and maybe a hand-held game [Nintendo DS or such] and eating a lot, I'm not sure what you can do.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

If you didn't have your son in tow, I would suggest copious amounts of alcohol. Does Toronto have a public transit system accessing the airport? If so, 5 1/2 hours would be enough time to do a little sightseeing.

 

[H20Babie]

Other than books and maybe a hand-held game [Nintendo DS or such] and eating a lot, I'm not sure what you can do.

We will have both, plus a sketch pad and my iPod. :brick: It's not Jackson I'm concerned about, it's me

If you didn't have your son in tow, I would suggest copious amounts of alcohol. Does Toronto have a public transit system accessing the airport? If so, 5 1/2 hours would be enough time to do a little sightseeing.

They do, but being Toronto, it would take an hour just to get somewhere interesting, but maybe we can go for a stroll outside the airport or something and get some fresh air!

 

[Monty]

If you didn't have your son in tow, I would suggest copious amounts of alcohol. Does Toronto have a public transit system accessing the airport? If so, 5 1/2 hours would be enough time to do a little sightseeing.

There is service, but it's not as convenient as one might hope.

http://www3.ttc.ca/Riding_the_TTC/Airport_service.jsp

Basically, you're looking at a minimum of an hour each way, longer depending
on wait times. Getting back to the airport in time to clear US Customs and security would be tight and there's nowhere to store luggage in the airport.

 

[Monty]

We will have both, plus a sketch pad and my iPod. :brick: It's not Jackson I'm concerned about, it's me

If you were flying through Ottawa, we could visit! :lol:

I'd drive out to the airport to meet you.

Take into account that Toronto's airport is a concrete jungle, not much to see outside, loads of exhaust fumes anywhere you walk and you'll have your luggage with you until you clear US customs, after which there's no outside to go to.